Alumni Updates

Benjamin Scott Endsley

Politics, 2024

Currently, Benjamin is a legislative aide in the office of Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, working on legislation related to housing, medical training and education, and agriculture.

Nick De Anda

Music, 2023

Nick graduated this past summer with a master's in classical guitar performance from the University of Alicante in Valencia, Spain. He was one of twelve from around the world and one of two from the United States to be selected to attend this intensive, high-caliber six-month program on the gorgeous Iberian coast. Nick was also the founding member of Mariachi de Humboldt, and can now be found volunteering with Guitars4Vets, teaching guitar to local veterans with PTSD, on top of performing and teaching privately near his hometown in Garden Grove.

Abbey Ramirez

Environmental Studies, 2022

Since graduation, Abbey moved to Sonoma County on Pomo and Coast Miwok land, where she is the Head Gardener for Traditional Medicinals Tea Company (the company that makes Throat Coat!) She tends the educational garden, which serves as an herbal library, displaying many medicinal herbs the company uses in its teas. She is also the zero-waste coordinator working with the environmental department on getting the tea company recertified as a zero-waste facility. Abbey is still working with CCAT as a member of the Steering Committee, and she is always proud to say where her education came from!

Anne Howard

English, 2022

Anne Howard (English, M.A. 2022) has accepted a position as Communications Manager for Tacoma Arts Live. The English department wishes to congratulate Anne on her new role!

Ryan Villafuerte

International Studies, 2021

After graduating from Cal Poly Humboldt (HSU), Ryan pursued a Master's degree in International Relations, focusing on Russia and the Soviet Sphere and the rise of Putinism during the War in Ukraine. He graduated with a distinction from the University of Kent Canterbury, and he decided to stay in the United Kingdom and entered the hospitality industry. 

He worked in different high-end 4 to 5-star hotels in London, ranging from corporate hotels in the City of London, and now he currently works in East London, dealing with different high-profile clients in and around Canary Wharf and East London. 

Being Trilingual English (native), French (Fluent C2), Spanish (professional C1), and having an international background helped him gain the skills and knowledge that he has learned from his time in Humboldt, as well as in Kent, the negotiation skills and multilingual skills when dealing with high profiled clients. Especially the high-profile corporations located in London. 

He currently deals with hotel Revenue and Reservations and helps the Sales team bring business to his main hotel, making it one of the most popular hotels in the London Docklands area. 

Lauren Werner

International Studies, 2021

Laura Werner (International Studies, '21) is enjoying a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Specialist, and Community Harm Reduction and Youth Educator with the Sacramento County Opioid Coalition. Werner has also recently accepted a position with the Peace Corps as a Community Educator in Mongolia. Werner is extremely thankful for the multitude of absolutely fantastic opportunities delivered to her after graduation from HSU, despite the many fluctuations that have recently taken place. International Studies has proven to be the most flexible major option, providing freedom in all of her professional pursuits and educational explorations. 

Danielle Dornan

English, 2021

Danielle is heading into an online master’s program through Syracuse University for Marriage and Family Therapy. She just moved to Santa Cruz, and is working as a barista/hostess and as a cheese monger!

Cristian Martinez

English2020, 2020

Cristian Martinez, English, 2020, says "the HSU English department prepared me for my next intellectual adventure, which is a Master's in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, New York!"

Trent Garrett

Politics, 2020

Trent Garrett began working for California Assemblymember Cristina Garica (AD 58) as a Legislative Aide. For the previous 6 months Garrett worked for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (AD 76).

Miranda Olberg

English, 2019

Since graduating from Humboldt, Miranda has worked closely with all ages—from infants to young adults—in various education roles across the country. Currently, she teaches at a forest school in northern Vermont. She is finishing a Master of Education at Antioch University New England with concentrations in place-based education, nature-based early childhood, and mindfulness integration. She is also working toward a teaching license with an endorsement in birth to third grade. Miranda hopes to continue furthering her education and research in the environmental humanities.